Johannesburg – AfriForum says it has sent a lawyer’s letter to Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie, to object to the name change of Graaff-Reinet in the Eastern Cape.
This follows in response to the Minister’s notice in the Government Gazette of 6 February 2026 that the town will henceforth be called Robert Sobukwe Town.
Sobukwe, who was born in the town in 1924, was an anti-apartheid revolutionary and a founder of the Pan-Africanist Congress (PAC). He died of lung cancer on 27 Feb 1978.
Minister McKenzie approved the renaming of Graaff-Reinet to Robert Sobukwe Town as part of 21 geographical name changes gazetted in early February 2026, following recommendations from the South African Geographical Names Council after a public consultation process.
However, AfriForum announced on Tuesday, 17 February 2026, that it was opposing the name change.
The South African Geographical Names Council Act 118 of 1998 provides for such objections to be lodged within 30 days of the publication of a name change.
Alana Bailey, AfriForum’s Head of Cultural Affairs, stated that the objection was based, among other things, “on the fact that the Eastern Cape Provincial Policy on Naming and Renaming of Geographical Features emphasises that the name changing of places of particular historical significance should only be considered in exceptional cases”.
According to AfriForum, in the case of Graaff-Reinet, which has had this name since its establishment 240 years ago, no such circumstances could be found.
AfriForum said that, contrary to the requirements of the policy, the change does not indicate that the necessary consideration has been given to the preservation of the town’s historical and cultural heritage.
In the letter, AfriForum refers to the study by Prof. Ronnie Donaldson, which established that 83,6% of the town’s residents are opposed to the name change.
“Although it is claimed that the name change will improve social cohesion, it is achieving the very opposite, with growing local and national polarisation because of the name change,” Bailey said.
“Residents even feel that the Minister and other relevant authorities are ignoring them.
“The name change could cause incalculable damage to the cultural and historical content of the name, the tourism industry, the local economy, and relations among communities.
“The responsible choice would be for the Minister to simply withdraw the change.”
AfriForum calls on everyone who wants to preserve Graaff-Reinet’s name to oppose this ill-considered change and to sign the petition against it here.
